There may be light at the end of the tunnel for those who have been calling for regulation into single-use plastics in Sri Lanka, with the Supreme Court being informed of a gazette notification expected next month, making it mandatory to charge a fee for plastic shopping bags, so they can no longer be given free of charge by traders.
While this move will not be the end of Sri Lanka’s single-use plastics crisis, it certainly is a step in the right direction. It will help, at best, improve awareness about the impact of plastics pollution, and also help in reducing usage of plastic shopping bags for some time. However, alternatives to plastic shopping bags and state education of such has already been in effect for decades, with little tangible impact on the single use plastic crisis.
Today, much of Sri Lanka’s freshwater reservoirs, waterways, rivers and coastal marine ecosystems are facing an increasing plastic pollution crisis. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, among the plastic pollutants, single-use plastics (SUPs) have become a major driver of pollution on land and in oceans. The SUPs are disposable plastic items made for one-time use – bags, packaging, straws, and bottles – that are quickly discarded after use. In 2021, they accounted for an estimated 139 million metric tonnes of global plastic waste.
Plastic waste in Sri Lanka has reached concerning levels. The country generates over 1.6 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which an estimated 70% is SUPs. A recent study estimated that Sri Lanka disposed of 20 million yoghurt cups, 15 million lunch sheets, 20 million supermarket bags, and 1 million sachet packets of sauce, jam, and shampoo monthly. The IPE pointed out that, approximately 171,561 tonnes, or around 69% of Sri Lanka’s annual plastic waste, remains unmanaged. This includes uncollected plastic waste that may be buried or burned, as well as fractions that escape into the environment during waste management processes.
Beaches like Unawatuna and Mirissa, popular among tourists, are often littered with plastic debris such as polythene bags, straws, and food wrappers. This not only damages the island’s reputation as a tropical paradise but also poses a threat to the tourism industry, which contributed 7.8% to the national GDP in 2023, and marine life. Pollution from SUPs can lead to tourists’ dissatisfaction with beach cleanliness, which may result in a decline in visitor numbers, job losses, and reduced foreign exchange earnings.
Over the last decade, Sri Lanka has made some progress in limiting SUPs through legislative bans, due to their significant threat to ecosystems, human health, and industries such as tourism and fisheries. However, roughly 70% of plastic waste is still SUPs. “The core issue is not a lack of regulations but rather the absence of meaningful implementation and enforcement. To truly ‘beat plastic pollution,’ Sri Lanka must look beyond bans and build a robust policy framework that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic products” the IPE advocated.
It is clear that plastic pollution, while prevalent islandwide, is concentrated along the coast of Sri Lanka, where the population density is at its highest, and where most industries are located. Sri Lanka’s marine pollution crisis, a multifaceted approach is essential. Existing regulatory frameworks like Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Protection Licences require stronger enforcement and monitoring mechanisms to achieve meaningful impact. Simultaneously, the adoption of eco-friendly tourism practices combined with sustainable fishing methods and the strategic expansion of Marine Protected Areas could help reconcile ecological preservation with economic needs.
Lasting solutions will depend on engaging coastal communities through education and participatory conservation programmes, fostering behavioural change across all stakeholders and communities – from local residents to industrial operators and policymakers. As such, while small steps in the right direction does matter, Sri Lanka needs to quickly understand the scale of the problem and enact a national policy, with awareness to address this situation.